Container top closure



March 8, 1938. E. w. SKINNER ET AL CONTAINER TOP CLOSURE Filed March 13, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS.

ATTORNEYS- March 8, 1938. E. w. SKINN ER ET AL 2,110,612

CONTAINER TOP CLOSURE Filed March 15, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS Patented Mar. 8, 1938 PATENT OFFICE CONTAINER TQP CLOSURE Eugene W. Skinner, Isaac L. Wilcox, and Robert F. Huntley, Fulton, N. Y., assignors to Oswego Falls Corporation, Fulton,N. Y., a corporation of New York Application March 13,

10 Claims.

This invention relates to containers used in the packaging of merchandise for retail, particularly food products. More particularly, the invention relates to those containers comprising 6 an outer rigid casing of comparatively stiif paperboard, and which are provided with a liner bag of thin, flexible material having liquid and gas tight characteristics, suchas Cellophane.

The invention has as an object, a container 10 of the type referred to which is provided with a particularly economical and .-efficient top closure which is readily sealed to the. container after the contentshave been inserted in the same, and which may be readily and conveniently detached .1 from the container and subsequent to the detachment used as a slip cover for the container until the contents therein have been completely used.

The invention consists in the novel features 20 and in the combinations and constructions hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In describing this invention, reference is bad to theaccompanying drawings in which like characters designate corresponding parts in all 25 the views. I

Figure 1 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of a container embodying our invention.

. 40 a Figure 6 is a fragmentary, sectional, exploded view of the elements going to make the top closure in the modified form shown in Figure 5.

- Figure 7 is a fragmentary, sectional view of a container, similar-to that shown in Figure -1, illustrating still a further modification of our top closure.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary, sectional, exploded view of the structure shown in Figure 7. Figure 9 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional 50 view showing the detail construction of the upper left hand corner of Figure l.

The invention comprises generally a tubula casing provided with abottom closure, a ring member on the upper end of the casing, a bag 65 of thin, flexible material arranged in the casing,

1936, Serial no. 68,722

with the open end of the bag secured to said ring member, a',cover member secured 'at its periphery to said ring member, one of said members having a portion depending in the casing,

and said members acting as a detachable closure J 5 for the container upon severance of the bag from said ring member.

Referring to Figure 1, the casing l 0 here shown is formed of comparatively rigid fibrous material, such as heavy paper-board, and is provided 10 with a suitable bottom closure II. The bottom closure maybe also formed of paper-board, or may be metallic. As here shown, the bottom closure H is not integral with the casing [0, but is secured thereto by a crimping operation, as at l2. A-bag l3 of thin, flexible material is. arranged within the casing Ill, with the bottom of the bag resting'upon the bottom closure ll, and the top of the bag extending to the open or top end of the casing 10. In Figure 1, the top of the bag I3 extends over the top edge of the casing and a short distance down the outer surface of the casing. V

This invention has to do particularly with the structure of the top closure for the container. In Figure 1, the top closure consists of a ring member l5 formed with an outwardly flaring flange l6 and a depending portion H which isformed or provided with an inwardly extending rib' or bead I 8. The depending flange H is of substantially the same diameter as the inner diameter of the casing l0, and the outwardly flaring top flange l6 overlapsthe top edge of the bag which, in turn, overlaps the top edge of the casing H] as previously explained, and the flange I6 is crimped as shown in Figure 1, thus securing the liner bag 13 to the ring member l5 and the top portion of the casing. Also, preferably the inner surface of the casing H), a short distance downwardly from the top edge, is pro-'40 vided with adhesive IS, the purpose of whichis to seal or cement the side wall of the bag l3 to the side wall of the casing H1 at this point for reasons hereinafter explained.

A cover member 20 completes the closure structure in this instance. The cover 20 is substantially of conventional form. Both the ring member I5 and the cover 20 are formed of thin sheet metal, and the cover 20 is of a form conventional in ordinary tin can structures, being provided'50 with an outwardly flaring horizontal flange 2| which overlaps the previously crimped flange l6 of the ring member 15 and is tightly crimped and secured to it. This operation is substantially the same as that of crimping the cover member of an ordinary tin can in place,-inasmuch as the ring member l5 has been previously crimped securely to the top of the casing l and presents an end structure similar to the body portion of a tin can.

- A circumferential inwardly extending groove 23 is formed in the casing l0 adjacent the upper end thereof and in alinement with the groove l8 formed in the ring-member I 5. ,The purpose of the grooves 23-48 is to form a knife guide. That is, to remove the top closure of the container, a knife is run around in the groove 23 which cuts throughthe casing l0 and also severs the upper end of the bag l3, the edge of the knife traveling in the groove I8 of the ring member I5. The top closure as a unit may be then readily removed from the container or casing l 0, and the contents are available due to the fact that the liner bag has been severed simultaneously with the upper end of the casing. It will be observed that the bottom edge of the depending flange I1 is turned slightly inward as at 24. This is to permit the 'top closure to be more readily reinserted in the to the inside wall of the casing l0 just below the casing I0 and thus, the top closure becomes a detachable closure for use with the container un til the contents have been completely consumed. Inasmuch as the Cellophane liner bag is attached groove 23, the top of the severed bag is held securely in place while the top closure is being used as a detachable put on and take oil cover.

Referring to Figures 3 and 4, the top closure also consists of a ring member 29 positioned on the upper end of the casing l0, and being formed with a depending flange l1 and an upwardly extending cylindrical flange 3D. The open end of the bag extends between the upper end of the casing in and the flange I1, and is crimped to the upper end of the flange 30, as at 31. The top closure is completed by the cover member 20 which is secured at its periphery to the ring 29 in the same manner as the cover 20 is secured to the ring member l5 in Figures 1 and 2. The flange l1 and the upper portion of the casing H], in this instance, is not provided with a knife guide complemental to the grooves I8, 23, in Figures 1 and 2, inasmuch as the top portion of the Cellophane bag is exposed as at 32 and may accordingly be readily severed from the ring member 29 and. thereafter, the top closure-may be used as a detachable closure. The inner surface of the upperend portion of the casing I 0 is preferably provided with adhesive l9, asin Fig- 3 the upper end oi the casing l0 and to which the ures 1 and 2.

Referring to Figures 5 and 6, the top closure also consists of a ring member 35 positioned on upper end of the Cellophane bag is secured, and a covei member secured to the'ring member and the casing. The ring member 35 is formed with a depending flange 36, and an outwardly flaring flange 31, thelatter overlapping the top portion of--the bag l3 and being crimped inwardly. to:

tightly secure the end of the bag l3 to the ring member and to the topportion of the casing Ill.

The cover member 38 is generally of the form of that shown in Figures 1 and 2, except that the cylindrical portion 39 is of considerably greater depth and is provided with an inwardly extending circumferential groove or rib 40, corresponding to the rib l8 in the ring member IS, in Figures 1 and 2. The rib I0 is positioned just below the bottom edge of the depending flange 38 on the ring member 35, and the upper part of-the casing I 0 is likewise provided with the circumfer- In Figures '7 and 8, the cover member 50 is of l the same structure as that disclosed in Figures 5 and 6. The ring member 5| is of fibrous material, and the upper end of the bag is secured thereto as by adhesive 52, and functions to hold the bag in place until the top closure has been completely attached to the container.- This structure is likewise provided with the grooves 40, 4|,

to effect a knife guide in connection with severing the top of the container.

The use of this type of container for food products, such for example as coffee, is rapidly increasing, and it is necessary to have the container of such structure as to effect a gas-tight seam between the top closure and the open end of the bag l3, inasmuch as coffee, and other food products, generate a considerable amount of gas in aging, and which is preferably maintained at a predetermined pressure within the container, and the atmospheric air excluded from the interior of the container.

With the structure shown in Figures 1 to 6 inclusive, the container closure is substantially the same as that of a tin can structure. In instances where the container need not be quite so rigid, the metallic ring member may be substituted with the fibrous ringmember 5|, as shown in Figures '7 and 8. This type of container, while suitable for many commodities, is not so desirable for high gaseous commodities, such as 'cofiee, as the seal is not so effective and will not withstand the pressures that the closures in Figures 1 to 6 will.

Attention is called to the fact that with our top closure structure, the can is very conveniently opened employing in such instances only an ordinary kitchen knife.

What we claim is:

' '1. A container comprising a tubular casing provided with a bottom closure, a bag of thin, flexible material arranged within the casing with' theopen end of the bag extending over the upper edge of the casing,.a top closure for the container including a ring member securing the upper end of the bag to the upper edge of the casing, a

cover member having its peripheral margin crimped into engagement with said ring member, said tubular casing being provided at its upper end with a peripheral recess adjacent the lower edge'of the ring member, and one of said members being formed with a cylindrical portion having a complemental recess arranged in alinement withthe recess in the casing, said recesses constituting a knife guide, whereby the top edge of the casing and the bag may be severed to effect opening of the container.

' 2. A container comprising a tubular casing provided with a bottom closure, a bagof thin, flexible material arranged within the casing, with the open end of the bag extending over the upper edge of the casing a top closure'for the container including a ringmember formed with an outwardly flaring flange and a depending flange, said outwardly flaring flanggoverlapping the upper edge of .the casing and securing the open end of the bag thereto, and said depending flange extending in the top portion of the bag and being provided with an inwardly extending groove, a cover member provided with an outwardly flaring flange crimped over said flange of the ring member, and said casing being provided with an inwardly extending groove arranged in alinement with the groove of said ring member.

3.A container comprising a tubular casing provided with a bottom closure, a liner bag of thin, flexible material arranged in the casing with the open end of the bag extending over the upper edge of the container, a top closure for the container including a ring member U shaped in .general cross section overlapping the upperend upper edge of the casing, a ring member encircling the upper end of the, casing and the overlapping portion of said bag and securing said bag to the upper end of the casingja cover member formed with a cylindrical portion and an outwardly flaring. flan e encircling the top edge of the casing and sai ring member and securing said elements together, a circumferential recess in the top portion of the casing immediately below cover member and arranged in alinement with the recess in the casing. e

said bag retaining ring, and a complemental groove formed in the cylindrical portion of the 5. A container comprising a tubular casing provided with a bottom" closure, a liner bag of thin, flexible material arranged in the casingwith the. open end of the bag'extending over the upper edge of the casing, a ring member encircling the upper end of the casing and being secured the overlapping portion of said bag, a cover member secured to said ring member-and having a cylindricalpgrtion depending in the casing, said dependingv portion being provided with a circumferential groove and a complemental.circum- 'ferential groove arranged in the upper end of the casing in alinment with thegroove in the cylindrical portion of the cover member.

36. A container comprising a tubular casing .providedwith a bottom closure. a ring member positioned on the upper endoi said-casing, a cover member having an outwardly flaring circumrerential flange crimped-into engagement 7 provided with with said ring member, one of said members having a depending portion extending into the cas-' ing, a bag of thin, flexible material arranged in the casing with the open end of the bag extending between the inner surface of the casing and said depending portiomand being secured to said ring member, said members acting as a detachable closure for the container upon severance of the bag from said ring member.

7.'A container comprising a tubular casing provided with a bottom closure, a ring member positioned on the upper edge of the casing and being provided with a cylindrical portion depending in said casing, a bagof thin, flexible material arranged in the casing and being secured to said ring member, and a cover member having an; outwardly flaring circumferential flange crimped into-engagement with said ring niember. v

;8. A container comprising a tubular'casing provided with a bottom closure, a ring member positionedon the upper edge of said casing and being provided-with a cylindrical portion depending in said casing, and with anupwardly extendingcylindrical portion, a bag or thin, flexible material arranged in the casing with the ope end of the bag extending between the .inner si e of the casing and said depending portion and en circling said upper, cylindrical portion, and being secured to said ring member at its top edge,'and a cover member secured at its,periphery to the upper edge of said ring member.-

9, A container comprising a tubular casing provided 'with a bottom closure, a ring member positioned on the upperv edge of the casing, a bag of thin, flexible material arranged in the casing with the open end of the bag secured to said ring member, a cover member having anoutwardly flaring circumferential flange crimpedinto engagement with said ring member,"and one of. said members having a portion depending in the casing below the upper edge thereof and operable to guide the top closure during application to the container after severance of the bag from said ring member. I

. 10. A container comprising a tubular casing provided with a bottom closure, a liner bag 0R thin, flexible material'arrangedin the casing, a

top closure for the cgntainer formed with a cylindrical portion encircled by the upper end of the casing .and being provided with a circumferential groove extending inwardly toward the axis of the container, said casing. being provided with a peripheral recess arranged in alinement with said groove in the flange of the top closure, and

the open end of the bag being cemented to the inside'of the casing below said peripheral recess.

. EUGENE w. SKINNER.

ISAAC n wmcox. ROBERT F. HUNTLEY. 

